The European Championship is over, but for many clubs the 24/25 European season has already started. This week sees the 2nd legs of the first qualifying rounds and British Isles clubs have work to do...
Champions League
Tuesday
Decic (0-3) The New Saints
Lincoln Red Imps (1-0) Hamrun
Shamrock Rovers (0-0) Vikingur Reykjavik
Also 1985/86 champions Steaua Bucherest host Virtus with a 7-1 lead!
Wednesday
Larne (0-3) RFS
Also playing includes Slovan Bratislava away to Struga with a 4-2 advantage and Ludogorets at Dinamo Batumi with scores level at 0-0.
Some big teams awaiting in the second Q round, such as Sparta Prague, PAOK, Malmo, APOEL and Qarabag. Rangers, Lille and Red Bull Salzburg are among the teams entering in the third round.
Europa League
No British Isles clubs in at this stage, with the likes of Elfsborg (3 up to Pafos), Sheriff Tiraspol and Zira (Zira taking a 1-0 away win back home) and Wisla Krakow 2 up to Llapi.
The 2nd Q round starting next week will see Ajax, Kilmarnock, Rapid Vienna, Panathinaikos and Braga enter the competition. Hearts get a bye to the play-off round.
Conference League
Wednesday
Crusaders (0-2) Caernarfon Town
Thursday
St Josephs (1-2) Shelbourne
Connah's Quay Nomads (1-0) Bravo
Derry City (0-2) Bruno's Magpies
Paide Linnameeskond (2-1) Bala Town
Linfield (0-2) Stjarnan
The second Q round includes CL dropouts (they have their own path) as well as the likes of St Mirren, St Patrick's Athletic, Cliftonville, Go Ahead Eagles, AEK Athens, Austria Vienna, Copenhagen, Legia Warsaw, Brondby, Gent and St Gallen.
Chelsea enter alongside Fiorentina, Real Betis, Lens and Heidenheim in the play-off round (4th round really).
There will be games every week until w/c 26th August, with the conclusion of the qualifying section of the competitions.
Draw for the CL League phase will then be on the 29th August, with the draws for the Europa and Conference League on 30th August.
Could one of these Q round teams follow Liverpool 04/05 and win the competition?!?!?!?!?!?!!? Probably not.
Brits in Europe...
posted on 17/7/24
Shamrock conceded a penalty at the death- and the Reykjavik captain put it wide!!! Literally the last kick of the game.
posted on 17/7/24
The Red Imps have Qarabag, Shamrock face Sparta Prague and Ferencvaros are the New Saints opponents.
posted on 17/7/24
I went to the first leg of the Bala v Paide Linnameeskond tie.
Bala looked poor, not surprising as they only started pre-season 2 weeks before the match and the Estonian team are mid-season.
For the Welsh clubs to improve their chances of progressing in Europe they really need to switch over to summer season football
My brother was subbed off due to injury in the first leg. He's still carrying some injuries over from last season.
10 years playing as a pro/semi pro in lower leagues etc plus playing academy level footy since he was 9 is really beginning to affect him physically now
posted on 17/7/24
lads...one question
what happened on Sunday evening?
posted on 18/7/24
GOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL Bala
2-2 on agg
posted on 18/7/24
That Robles lad is having a mare.
posted on 18/7/24
he's playing OK today despite his fitness issues
posted on 18/7/24
Bala should be a few goals up after the 1st half
posted on 18/7/24
You are such a fanboy
posted on 18/7/24
gutted
should have won the tie in normal time
My brother put in a peach of a cross in the last min and Newell missed a point blank header
Last kick of ET the Estonians scored a 30 yarder to win the tie